Community Chat

[Marp2]

It's the key that can set criminals free — and it sells for a measly $10.50.

Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly issued an internal alert in May about plastic handcuff keys for sale on Amazon.com that perps can attach to a zipper in case they need to spring themselves from the bracelets of the law.

The “Covert Hide Out Handcuff Key” is covered by a small plastic sleeve and looks like any other small lanyard attached to a jacket zipper.

“This handcuff universal key will be there for you when you need it most,” reads the description on Amazon. “Since the key is attached to its cord, it will not become lost even during the most demanding situations.”

In the internal NYPD memo issued May 23, cops were urged to be extra careful when transporting cuffed prisoners.

Law enforcement experts say the plastic keys present particular alarm because they can pass through metal detectors. That could allow prisoners to escape from all manner of custody — jails, courthouses or during transport. Al Nasseri, a manager at Uniform Warehouse, a distributor of law enforcement equipment, hadn’t heard of the universal plastic keys. And he wondered about the wisdom of selling them.

MORE:

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/cheap-key-promises-freedom-cops-cuffs-article-1.1363361